Chicago hotels would have to give workers 'panic buttons' under plan aldermen advance

Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune

Ald. Michelle Harris, 8th, is sponsoring a bill that she says will give some security to female hotel employees who too often feel like they don’t have enough power to report guests.

Ald. Michelle Harris, 8th, is sponsoring a bill that she says will give some security to female hotel employees who too often feel like they don’t have enough power to report guests. (Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune)

Chicago hotels would be required to provide portable “panic buttons” to workers like housecleaners who venture alone into guests’ rooms, under a plan aldermen advanced Monday.

Hotels also would need to post sexual harassment policies and promise workers would not face retribution if they reported sexual harassment or assault by guests. Employees would be guaranteed paid time off to file police reports or to testify in court against guests they say harassed or attacked them in the hotel.

The ordinance was approved by the Workforce Development Committee and heads to the City Council next week. Sponsor Ald. Michelle Harris, 8th, said the changes would give some security to women who too often feel like they don’t have enough power to report guests.

“It’s all about the workers who were feeling a little challenged about their issues and not having mechanisms in place that they felt really protected them,” Harris said.

“Who does the hotel manager believe if a complaint is filed, the powerless employee or the executive paying hundreds of dollars in room charges with a corporate platinum American Express card?” Burke asked. “Without safeguards in place, it’s the employee who’s exposed and vulnerable to the abuser and even, at times, the hotel management.”

If the ordinance is approved, hotels will have until July 2018 to install a panic button system so workers can quickly call security or a supervisor for help. Ald. Patrick O’Connor, 40th, said the system might operate similarly to services elderly people can use to call for an ambulance if they’ve fallen. Hotels would need to adopt the rest of the regulations within 60 days of aldermen passing them.

Hotels that don’t provide the panic buttons or adhere to other parts of the measure would face fines of $250 to $500 under the proposal.

If the Chicago Commission on Human Rights determined a particular hotel has violated the ordinance twice or more within 12 months, the city Office of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection could start proceedings to suspend or revoke the hotel’s license.